Donald M. Miller

School of Medicine

Donald M. Miller, M.D., Ph.D., is Director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. He is also Associate Vice President for Health Affairs, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Medicine.

Miller is principal investigator in research projects totaling more than $2.3 million annually, including clinical trials involving medications to treat melanoma. Under his direction the cancer center’s funding has increased from $500,000 in 1999 to more than $24 million in 2007. He has recruited or co-recruited more than 95 clinical & research faculty to the University of Louisville since his arrival in 1999. These scientists now have more than $20 million in annual research support.

Miller has led the development of the Owensboro Cancer Research Program, which has brought scientists and support staff to Owensboro to work on the development of plant-based pharmaceuticals in partnership with the Owensboro Memorial Health System. He has also led the development of the concept for the Kosair Charities Pediatric Cancer Research Center, funded by a $12 million gift from Louisville-based Kosair Charities. The center will be focused on developing new drugs and therapies specifically for pediatric cancers.

Miller is a past chair the Hematology II study section of the NIH. He has written more than 180 publications and abstracts.

Prior to coming to U of L, he was deputy director of the Lurleen Wallace Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). He also directed the Bolden molecular genetics laboratory at UAB.

He earned his bachelor's degree at Florida State University and his medical degree and a doctorate in biochemistry from Duke University. He has taught at Harvard University, the National Cancer Institute, the University of Michigan and UAB.